Guest Post and Giveaway: Brothers LaFon by Joseph Lance Tonlet

The Novel Approach is please to welcome author Joseph Lance Tonlet today, on his Brothers LaFon blog tour. Enjoy Joseph’s guest post, then be sure to leave a comment for the chance to win a paperback copy of Grif’s Toy: Tease and Denial Book One (US Residents Only), or a $10 Amazon Gift Card (International Residents).

THIS CONTEST IS CLOSED

The Allure of Psychopaths

One doesn’t have to look far to find a famous fictional psychopath. Patrick Bateman from American Psycho, Sherlock Holmes from The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, and James Bond from Casino Royale are just a few. And with each of them, we find ourselves intrigued, if not downright attracted to them.

Sure, the fictional world is conducive to this intrigue and attraction; if the characters weren’t interesting then the books and movies that featured them wouldn’t be nearly as successful as they are. I often find the characteristics they frequently share—the same ones that firmly define them as societal outcasts—utterly appealing. These characteristics, according to Psychology Today, include:

As a writer, what more could I creatively ask for? The above short list opened doors of nearly limitless possibilities.

Jeremiah, one of the two main characters of Brothers LaFon, my latest novelette, is unquestionably a psychopath—and he was an utter joy to write.

In this scene excerpt below, Alexander has posed the single question to Jeremiah that he longs for an answer to: Why? Jeremiah responds,

“I know I hurt you—that I intend to hurt you—and it makes me feel good to hear your screams and pleas, to see the blood and scars. But your pain, what it means to you, it has no effect on me; I don’t feel anything about it in regards to you as a person. I don’t feel…empathy, Alexander.”

His tone was serious but honest and nonthreatening. Alex decided to push his luck a bit more.

“B-but, you know it’s w-wrong, what you do to me, right?”

“I know it’s not what other people consider right, yes…but, it does feel right to me.”

Alex gave a jerky nod of understanding but said nothing more.

Damn! Given a character like that—one who feels no regard toward others, and only thinks of his own needs—again, the possibilities were staggeringly endless. Add into the mix that Jeremiah and Alexander are brothers, one gay and one straight, and my creative juices were on overload.

Of course, I had to decide how I was going to present Jeremiah. In the end, I tried to write him as honestly and non-judgmentally as I could. Indeed, I attempted to simply tell his story as it was. Hopefully, if I was successful, the story places the reader in a difficult position. Jeremiah—although undoubtedly heinous—is a person with deep-seated needs. His primary need is Alexander. It’s my hope that the common need most of us share, to have a connection with a special someone, makes Jeremiah not only relatable, but perhaps on some level, even likable. And for some readers, harboring an attraction to a psychopath can be…conflicting. *wink*

Without question, if you choose to pickup Brothers LaFon, it’s my deepest desire that you find yourself asking an uncomfortable question: “Do I loathe Jeremiah, or do I adore him?”

Blurb: Alexander LaFon lives a nightmare, but he deals with it. Deals with the fact that his mother abandoned him as an infant, deals with the fact that his father is never home, and deals with the fact that his older brother, Jeremiah, tortures him.

He dreams of escaping his mobile-home prison and finding a normal life. Of breaking free of his agony, finding a woman to love, becoming a teacher.

But some horrors you can never outrun. There’s nowhere to hide. Some nightmares chase you in your sleep and steal your freedom like a brutal thief. Some brothers never give up and never answer why.

I think wicked characters, conflicted ones, or those who are not very moral, are by far the more attractive ones, the ones which you remember long time after you read a book (or watch a film. I still remember El Kurgan from Highlander…). I am looking forward to getting to know Jeremiah. Thank you for the chance.

I couldn’t agree more! I find those characters who will say anything—DO anything—to achieve their goals utterly fascinating! And, writing such a character was liberating (and immensely gratifying) in ways I’d never anticipated.

It sure seems like a dark-ish read, not what I’m used to read. But it sounds interesting and it sure makes ou want to know more about Jeremiah… even though you feel like you want to kill him too.
Thanks for the giveaway!

Jeremiah is one you either love or hate. Is there an in between? Alex is so adorable it’s hard to understand why he lets Jeremiah hurt him. In the beginning yes but when he got older? Does Alex love Jeremiah that much or need him? I guess we’ll find out in book two. I can’t wait.

“Why?” That IS the question isn’t it? The one Alex is forever asking, and hopefully, the one readers will also ask – as it relates to both characters. *grins* I believe we may find out more about what motivates both of them in the next book. *wink*

Do you think some psychopaths do not understand that they are different than non-psychopaths? That they think their behavior is ‘normal’? And what about true Sadists? Do you think in a way they fall in this category in some ways?
And our current Sherlock insists he’s a Sociopath.

Let me preface these next comments by saying they are nothing more than *my* opinion =)

From the (limited?) research I did regarding to psychopaths, the vast majority do know right from wrong—and will go to great lengths to conceal any wrongdoing/protect themselves.

Are Sadists, by definition, also psychopaths? Unequivocally, no! I think a reviewer of Grif’s Toy said it best:

“I follow a podcast called Intellectual Kink (great podcast) and the Mistress there discussed how she had to accept that she was still a good person being a sadist. Just because you enjoy being a sadist does not mean that you are evil or a mean person. What it means is that you need to find that masochist who NEEDS the pain and humiliation just as much as Wes needs to give it.”

Indeed, I don’t believe finding sexual gratification by inflicting pain—in a Safe, Sane, and Consensual manner—equates with any type of psychosis. Any more than I believe a person who enjoys receiving said pain (me, by the way *wink*) is mentally…challenged by/suffers from psychopathy.

Yes true, IF safe, sane and consensual I say anything is ok… especially if you find that perfect match… now don’t get me started on that show…sigh…WAITING sucks…but I’d love John one day just to grab Sherlock and spank him like you know for sure he deserves it and then yeah, hot sex….forget all the murders , just a show about their new life together and I’d still watch. I write so much fanfic it is ridiculous maybe. I also love Benedict as Khan in Star Trek. He’d be a great sadist/ Kirk his little Omega.

I’ve posted a couple at archiveofourown.org as 221B_Johnkhanlock. I haven’t put my Sherlock stuff up (I love them too much and too shy to share them) although I have a Dr Who/Sherlock crossover up and what is going to be a manage of Khan/Kirk and original character. My trouble is with writing is that I get side tracked by other stories. I have probably three books started, one nearing completion if I ever pick it up again and about ten fanfics in various stages. AND THEN along come hot m/m authors—-glaring at you—- and I get even more distracted. Well, and work gets in the way must say.

So much emotion, so much story in such little amount of words. I’m really looking forward to reading this book. I have Grif’s Toy but haven’t read it yet. It’s very close to the top of my list, though.
Much success, Joseph!
taina1959 @ yahoo.com

I just got into reading M/M. This book is one Dark one. I found that some times I want a to read a real heavy duty book and this fits the bill. I found myself wishing that I had this book in mu hands reading in real life time. I have started a new list that I call my Must Reads List. That means that when I am spending my money on books this is the list that I buy from first. I am on a fixed income, so I have to be really picky when I spend my money. This book is going to be worth every penny. Thanks for writing Brothers LaFon pt1 Crucial Lessons.

Greetings, everyone, I hope you all had a great weekend! I finally got around to drawing the winner of Joseph Lance Tonlet’s Grif’s Toy giveaway and am happy to announce that Jen CW is the lucky reader today.

Congratulations, Jen! I’ve just emailed Joseph with your contact info, so expect to hear from him soon. :)